You had to like the Providence College basketball team's odds at the end of Thursday night's game. The Friars were 3.5 seconds away from another stunning upset of Pittsburgh.
Then Ashton Gibbs gave PC the latest in a long series of gut punches, hitting a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Pitt a 73-71 win.
It's not as if this demoralizing defeat had any postseason implications (the Friars' season was lost weeks ago), but you've got to feel for these kids.
Sure, this abyssmal season can be chalked up to youth and inexperience. But no matter the circumstances, the skid PC is on right now is a brutal one. The Friars have lost nine straight (11 of 12), and in all likelihood will close the season on a 10-game losing streak after NCAA tournament bubble resident Seton Hall wins in Providence on Saturday.
Forget the NCAA, Providence isn't even getting an invite to the Big East conference tournament. One wonders if coach Keno Davis had any idea things would go so wrong this season.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Big dance is big enough
Seemingly every March, some talk arises about the possibility of expanding the NCAA basketball tournament to include more teams.
And, it seems like every year, I write a column or a blog entry about how big of a mistake that would be.
Well, consider this my 2010 version.
The perfect number of teams for this tournament is 64 teams. Even adding the play-in game (in which two team's no one can identify play for the right to be a No. 16 seed and get smacked by Kansas in the first round) was a silly idea. But that doesn't bother me much, because it still boils down to a 64-team tournament.
But this talk of expanding to 96 or 128 teams is absurd. The ultimate purpose of the tournament is to determine the national champion. Yes, for many teams, just making the tournament is the benchmark for a successful season. But those teams aren't going to be there at the end. Rhode Island, for example, is squarely on the bubble at present. But if the Rams get in, even the most hardcore URI fan can't expect them to be one of the FInal Four in Indianapolis come April.
The lower seeds do provide some entertainment, though. The first two rounds offer myriad upset opportunities, and we almost always see a couple of high-profile teams sent home by the likes of George Mason or Davidson. And once in a great while, i.e. George Mason in 2006, a Cinderella can get to the Final Four.
But no No. 16 has ever beat a No. 1 in the first round. What chance would a No. 32 seed have of advancing?
Sure, some teams whine and cry every year about being left out. But the fact is, if they'd won another game or two or made it a little further in their conference tournament, they'd be in.
Expansion just waters down the tournament and makes an NCAA berth a little less special. Leave it alone.
And, it seems like every year, I write a column or a blog entry about how big of a mistake that would be.
Well, consider this my 2010 version.
The perfect number of teams for this tournament is 64 teams. Even adding the play-in game (in which two team's no one can identify play for the right to be a No. 16 seed and get smacked by Kansas in the first round) was a silly idea. But that doesn't bother me much, because it still boils down to a 64-team tournament.
But this talk of expanding to 96 or 128 teams is absurd. The ultimate purpose of the tournament is to determine the national champion. Yes, for many teams, just making the tournament is the benchmark for a successful season. But those teams aren't going to be there at the end. Rhode Island, for example, is squarely on the bubble at present. But if the Rams get in, even the most hardcore URI fan can't expect them to be one of the FInal Four in Indianapolis come April.
The lower seeds do provide some entertainment, though. The first two rounds offer myriad upset opportunities, and we almost always see a couple of high-profile teams sent home by the likes of George Mason or Davidson. And once in a great while, i.e. George Mason in 2006, a Cinderella can get to the Final Four.
But no No. 16 has ever beat a No. 1 in the first round. What chance would a No. 32 seed have of advancing?
Sure, some teams whine and cry every year about being left out. But the fact is, if they'd won another game or two or made it a little further in their conference tournament, they'd be in.
Expansion just waters down the tournament and makes an NCAA berth a little less special. Leave it alone.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Newport out of Volvo Race consideration
Newport officials on Sunday learned the city would not be chosen as a host port for the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race.
The official announcement is expected Wednesday, and Miami is expected to be chosen as the North American stopover. This morning, Lisbon, Portugal, was chosen as the first European port. Cape Town, South Africa, was selected last week as the first stopover.
Last week, the Valencia Life Network in Valencia, Spain, recent site of the 33rd America’s Cup, reported the route for the event will include Miami as its North American stop.
The official announcement is expected Wednesday, and Miami is expected to be chosen as the North American stopover. This morning, Lisbon, Portugal, was chosen as the first European port. Cape Town, South Africa, was selected last week as the first stopover.
Last week, the Valencia Life Network in Valencia, Spain, recent site of the 33rd America’s Cup, reported the route for the event will include Miami as its North American stop.
TNAF to host Winter Gala
The Tuesday Night Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young athletes, is holding its annual Winter Gala on Saturday night at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Founded by University of Rhode Island graduates Michael Richards and Matt Emmert in November 2006, the Tuesday Night Athletic Foundation helps to “relive the financial burden placed on families that can be inherent with high performance sports programs.”
The organization, which assisted in sending North Kingstown swimmer Elizabeth Beisel to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games, has awarded more than $15,000 in scholarships.
I met Emmert and Richards in 2007, and I was stunned that two recent college graduates would find time in their days to start a foundation that helps others. These kids are really doing a great service for the community's young athletes, and this event is their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the Hall of Fame, which is open to those who attend. There will also be live music and dancing and a silent auction. Donations are accepted.
To learn more about the organization, or to purchase tickets, which cost $50, please visit www.tnaf.org.
Founded by University of Rhode Island graduates Michael Richards and Matt Emmert in November 2006, the Tuesday Night Athletic Foundation helps to “relive the financial burden placed on families that can be inherent with high performance sports programs.”
The organization, which assisted in sending North Kingstown swimmer Elizabeth Beisel to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games, has awarded more than $15,000 in scholarships.
I met Emmert and Richards in 2007, and I was stunned that two recent college graduates would find time in their days to start a foundation that helps others. These kids are really doing a great service for the community's young athletes, and this event is their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the Hall of Fame, which is open to those who attend. There will also be live music and dancing and a silent auction. Donations are accepted.
To learn more about the organization, or to purchase tickets, which cost $50, please visit www.tnaf.org.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)